New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-11
THE YEDDER BILL.
JUDGE DAVIS ANSWERS CRITICISMS.
A WISE AND JUST MEAsuRE-ITs NATURE AM
EFFECT

EFFECT
To the Editor Of The Trfbans
SIR: beg permission through The TRIBUNE to
correct some OF the Misrepresentation made by
portion Of the press and by interested OF the
nature and effect Of the veddec bill pending in the
Assembly. That bill does not affect the present excise
systems of the State under which Licenses are now
authorized. If the Yedder bill becomes law the fees
for licenses will in all remain the
provided by law, and the officers will have all
the power they have to grant refuse licenses
The distribution OF the money paid for licenses will
remain as now, and no chartabic other institution
will be deprived OF any share of such money by opera.
ton OF the BILL nor will the Police Pension Fund lose
ANYTHING il is now entitled to receive. The vedder
bill seeks to do nothing than to require the liquor
saloons and ali places where intoxicating drinks
sold under license 20 bear portion OF the burdens
which they cast WITH such widespread injury upon the
taxpayers all other people OF the State The tax
it imposes Ia wholly independent of the license fee,
and Is not to 10 imposed collected except in
where the license has first been granted and the Zee
pod II tho bill will have any effect upon license tees
under the excise In it will be only the Indirect one of
preventing licenses being taken by persons who can
not afford 70 nav the tax asn and in such the
incidental effect OF diminishing drinking places and
their evils will than compensate charitable inst-
tutons by the falling OF In the number of uniortu-
mates who now call tor their care or support.
1t is wise and Just measure to tax the business OF
liouorselliug Tor the benefit OF the State. We tax
banks and other corporations upon their business priv
eges because OF the special advantages the State con-
fers upon them, and one claims this Is unjust,
except when excessive although their business is rs
rule highly beneficial to the people. Why, then, should
we hesitate to tax the special privilege which the law
confers upon quor-selers, 10 the exclusion OF persons
not licensed whom We know taat their business ID not
only specially profitable 10 themselves but specially
injurious to their and to the public at Target
The burden OF taxation the people have 10 carry as
consequence OF liquor seling IN the forms OF crime,
pauperism and various injuries to the public peace,
prosperity and health, must fall upon the taxpayers
and why should the class privileged by license to
produce these evils not he compelled to help the tax
PAYERS of the State to carry and pay Tor hemi There
ia true craftsmanship in tho Yedder BILL worthy OF all
communication; for nothing IS wiser or more just IN
legislation than to compel evils which the law toer-
atcs TO bear largely the cost TO the Taxpayers OF their
own existence. Especially is this true when it IS
manifest that the tax imposed only calls tor portion
OF the profits which the licensed vender OF injurious
art ces mixes by doing acts that create a necessity
Tor taxation If the profits are not adequate to meet
the tax the dealer has only to cease doing hs injurious
business and he will the tax.
But let us tor a moment what will be the effect OF
the Vedder BILL il it becomes law, upon the taxation
of the people, The State raises by taxation from seven
TO nine million dollars 1t is estimated that the tax
alton under the yedder bill will put into the State
treasury frou two to three million dollars BY that
amount the general taxation will be diminished. Say
tor illustrate that the State raises nine Million and
that the tax the liquors eePs yields three million,
tine effect upon every farmer business man whose
tax for State purposes equals one hundred or one
thousand dollars Surely a most beneficial one TO
him, not only in economy but Ill his sense oil the
Justice of law which makes the business that causes
the necessity heavy taxation bear some portion OF
what il produces.
But il IL said that the taxes proposed by the Vedder
bill are unequal and burdensome upon the cities 1t
s true that the proposed upon liquor-sellihg in
the cities is heavier than upon the same business IN
the county but that because the sellers are more
numerous and tue business vastly more profitable.
On the average the number OF customers at New
York grogshop tenold at least as great as at the
average grogshops OF the rural districts To be in any
Just the tax must be imposed on the idea OF tho
aud profits OF the business done and this must
he ACCOMPLISHED by OF general average that
will most fairly meet the actual conditions. The
Legislature cannot do more than approximate
equality by general provisions and this is what is
sought to be and ID done by the Nedder bill.
But IL is urged that the cities rather the several
counties should have the benefit of the
in each under the BILL that. for illustration New
York shall be credited her general State taxes all
that her numerous liquorsellers pay 10 the State
This objection is more speclous than sound II New
York bore alone all the expenses she causes the State
by tue vastly disprOpOrtlonate number OF Criminals
with which she peoples the State prisons, penitenta
RES asyums and charitable Institutions, caused
largely by the maintenance OF her immense lluor-sel
ing system there would be more force in the sugges
Oh all her banks and moneyed and other corporations
should be placed TO her separate oreot aud educcd
from her share general State taxes, because she
has So many ore than the country counties. On all
questions OF general taxation the State is entirety
and must upon that idea in imp osins taxes tor
State purposes
But the taxpayers of New-York City will be greatly
benefited by the Vedder bill If it becomes a law
The city pays it is said ~ per cent OF the State
taxes II the We'd der bill becomes law and the re-
suit that produces to the State treasury. say
third Of tho taxes raised by the State it easy to
see that the general taxpayers of the CITY OF New
York will be much benefited a. any part OF their
feowcitizens OF the State Forty seven per cent OF
six millions is quite different thing from AZ per cent
OF nine millions The general taxpayers OF NewYork
will find great relief from State taxation without
feeling any injury because their liquor sellers
specially taxed on a business which heretofore has
paid no general taxes, but only created great
necessity tor theii payment by others.
The yedder bill is one the enactment Of which
shonld be demanded by every taxpayer OF the state.
IL is in the interest OF morality, justice and equality.
II il tends to restrain the mischeyous consequences
Of bad excise laws much the better but il it tail in
that il will at least do much to relieve the people from
the necessity of footing the whole of the expenses
with which they are now oppressed by those conse-
luences. Very respectfully yours,
NeOc- York, May 10. 1887. NOAH DAVIS.
THE .4BBEY-WALL1CK CONTRACT SIGNED
Outlines OF TIE AGRREMEST-wHAr Mr.. ABBEY